Desert Wheatear

The desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti, is a small, migratory passerine bird, once thought to belong to the thrush family but now classified among the Old World flycatchers. It measures approximately 14.5 to 15 cm in length, with a weight range of 15 to 34 grams. The male's summer plumage is characterized by buff upper parts and white underparts with a buff tinge on the breast, and a distinctive black face and throat extending to the shoulders, complemented by a white supercilium. The female is greyer above, buffer below, and lacks the male's black throat. Both sexes possess a black tail up to the upper tail-coverts.

Identification Tips

In the field, look for the desert wheatear's black tail, which is a key distinguishing feature observable in both sexes and all ages. The male's black face and throat contrast sharply with the white supercilium and underparts. Females are more subdued in coloration, lacking the black throat. In winter, the male's black throat is less pronounced due to white feather tips.

Habitat

The desert wheatear inhabits barren open landscapes, including steppes, deserts, semi-arid plains, and rocky wastelands. It can be found at elevations up to 3,500 meters, and during winter, it may frequent cultivated lands with interspersed bare areas.

Distribution

This species has a broad breeding range across Asia, from the Middle East and Saudi Arabia through to northwestern Mongolia. The western race breeds in North Africa, while the eastern race winters in northeastern Africa, the Arabian peninsula, Iraq, and Pakistan. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

Behaviour

The desert wheatear is known for perching on elevated spots before swooping down to capture insects and other invertebrates from the ground. It can also catch insects mid-air and is capable of hovering briefly. Its diet is primarily composed of ants, beetles, caterpillars, flies, and their larvae, with seeds also found in its stomach contents.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in late April or May, with the bird nesting on rocky hillsides, steppes, or sandy plains. The nest is a well-constructed cup of grasses, mosses, and stems, lined with fine roots and hairs. The female lays a clutch of usually four pale blue, speckled eggs, which both parents help to incubate and raise.

Conservation Status

The desert wheatear is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and an extensive breeding range estimated at nearly 10 million square kilometers.